McIlroy Embarks on a New Chapter at The Masters: Can He Create More History?

Rory McIlroy's preparations for The Masters have been distinct from his previous attempts, and he has fully embraced this new approach since cementing his place in golf history. Having experimented with various build-up scenarios during his 17 prior appearances at Augusta National, McIlroy finally found the winning formula to achieve his childhood dream of completing the career Grand Slam. Many have wondered if McIlroy's ascent to the pinnacle of golf would mark the end of his major motivation, but he has welcomed every aspect of his title defense, arriving earlier than ever to support multiple events and prepare for another push for major glory. 'It's been a mix of business and pleasure,' McIlroy said on Wednesday. 'I've prepared and tried to do a lot of my work in the weeks leading up to the tournament at home, then the trips I made here to prepare and get familiar with the course again.' McIlroy previously questioned whether it would ever be his time to win The Masters, but now, having completed that task, he is determined to enjoy his week while focusing on playing good golf. The chance to host some of golf's all-time greats at the Champions Dinner was something he was always going to cherish. 'It's not lost on me,' McIlroy insisted. 'All of us in that room were the envy of the sports world. Everyone else would love to be in that room, and I certainly don't ever want to take it for granted.' Even McIlroy himself believed that the Grand Slam was his ultimate 'destination,' but he now enters his title defense with a different outlook. 'What motivates me? What gets me going? What do I still want to achieve in the game? I think that's the story,' McIlroy said in his pre-tournament press conference. 'There's still a lot that I want to do. You think every time you achieve something or have success that you'll be happy, but then the goalposts move and they just keep nudging a little bit further and further out of reach.' McIlroy is aware of the fresh opportunities ahead of him to create further history, as a successful title defense would see him match Sir Nick Faldo's all-time major tally and become just the fourth player ever to win back-to-back editions of The Masters. 'I do feel like I've got another hopefully 10 good shots at this,' McIlroy claimed. 'Not that I don't at the other majors, but I just think that everything here is a little more predictable. I just think the more experience you have around this golf course, the better it is.' Faldo himself believes McIlroy has to completely reset for the defense of his title. 'You can't roll off a log and do that [winning formula again]. He won on such emotion last year it's going to be starting again,' Faldo said. McIlroy has been handed an early-late start for the first two days alongside Players champion Cameron Young and US Amateur winner Mason Howell, having already struggled to contend during a title defense this season. He withdrew mid-tournament from the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month due to a lower back issue and then failed to mount a challenge a week later, ending 13 strokes behind Young at the PGA Tour's flagship event. Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley told Sky Sports, 'Look, he's McIlroy - you're never going to discount him, particularly around here [Augusta National], but I don't think he's primed to [win] and I don't fancy him as much as I did this time last year.' Sky Sports' Butch Harmon added, 'I think he comes in here a little more relaxed. He doesn't have the weight on his back that he has to win the Grand Slam.' Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald said, 'I always see Rory as someone that is very childlike. He likes to just go out there and has fun and that's when he's at his best.' A relaxed McIlroy said he comes into his latest major pursuit with 'a big weight off his shoulders.' He can now go out and enjoy this tournament - for the rest of his playing days - with that the Grand Slam burden behind him.